Antonio Banderas has a lot to thank Pedro Almodovar for, as it was thanks to the likes of the director’s Matador and Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown that he first came to international attention. However the duo haven’t worked together since 1990’s Tie Me Up, Tie Me Down, with Banderas instead concentrating on his English-language Hollywood career.
Now it seems they’re getting back together for a movie called The Skin I Live In. THR revealed that the film will be based off the novel Tarantula by Thierry Jonquet, which centres on a plastic surgeon, whom Banderas will portray, who seeks vengeance for the rape of his daughter.
Almodovar hadn’t wanted to announce the movie yet, but Banderas was so excited he let slips suring an interview at the St Petersberg Film Festival, which led Almodovar to say, “Antonio is impatient. And I understand it. He had to push back his return to Broadway to do the film and he also had to reject other important projects. And despite the law of silence we had imposed on him, he couldn’t keep quiet any longer.”
The director also added, “The film will be a terror film, without screams or scares. It’s difficult to define and although it comes close to the terror genre – something that appeals to me that I’ve never done – I won’t respect any of its rules. It’s the harshest film I’ve ever written and Banderas’ character is brutal.”
However the movie won’t include the other person often seen as his muse, Penelope Cruz. While a role in the film was initially created with her in mind, as Almodovar continued to work on the script, the character began to change, so he no longer sees her in that role.
The Skin I Live In is due to shoot this summer.